Marion County Commission approves Silver Springs CRA

In this June 20, 2012 file photo, a boarded-up antique mall can be seen along Silver Springs Boulevard. The Marion County Commission has approved a Community Redevelopment Area to improve the appearance and economic appeal of part of Silver Springs.

Published: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.

County commissioners on Tuesday created a special tax district intended to bolster the appearance and economic appeal of Silver Springs.

The board voted unanimously to establish a Community Redevelopment Area, or CRA, a roughly 4,100-acre zone around Silver Springs wherein new tax revenues will be banked to build or fix nearby infrastructure.

Commissioners did so over the objections of a small minority who argued the plan could be used to benefit developers at the expense of existing residents and the famous Silver Springs attraction.

In four separate votes, commissioners agreed to establish the CRA, make themselves its governing board, set up the financing mechanism and adopt the plan to spruce up the area.

Under the plan, property values within the new district will be frozen at the level established as of Jan. 1, 2013. Beginning next year, and over the next 30 years, any subsequent increase in tax revenues from rising land values within the CRA will be funneled to a trust fund to pay for improvements within the district.

"It's going to be a great asset to the people in that community," Chairwoman Kathy Bryant said after the final vote.

Some residents agreed.

Dick Donaldson, who lives within the CRA, called it a "win-win for us."

Joy Steen, another resident, welcomed the plan as a way to revitalize a deteriorating community.

"We see our people leaving the area. We're beginning to see businesses boarded up, and other areas not thriving. I'm hopeful if the community redevelopment is approved we will see a change in this," Steen said.

David Tillman, an Ocala engineer, noted that the county has spent considerable sums to improve the stormwater drainage and wastewater disposal to preserve Silver Springs — something he still awaited from state environmental regulators.

Others, however, were unconvinced.

Critics focused on the wording of the plan, saying the terms were elastic enough to permit the county to introduce development that would have undesirable consequences for the famous springs, whose health is already in decline.

Guy Marwick, former director of the Silver River Museum at Silver River State Park, questioned provisions in the plan that call on the county to review growth management policies in the area.

For example, Marwick noted language that would facilitate consolidating parcels through voluntary sales or eminent domain, the government's ability to take private land for a public purpose, while compensating the landowner.

Marwick also pointed to terms recommending revision of policies that limit how much commercial space per acre developers are allowed to construct, and that suggest the county should negotiate "from the state," which owns the Silver Springs attraction, to "maximize development potential" at the park.

Marwick noted that the springs' flow is at a historic low, and that county, state and private groups collectively over the years have spent $150 million to buy Silver Springs and thousands of surrounding acres to spare it from intense development, which could only exacerbate its troubles.

"The wording in this leaves me, and many of us, unsure," Marwick said.

County Attorney Guy Minter explained that the county was prohibited under state law from exercising its eminent domain power to secure land from owners to provide to developers for economic development initiatives.

Minter, however, conceded that it "would be OK" for the county to assemble lots for a project if the land sales were voluntary.

Commissioners also worked to point out that it was the community that drafted the plan.

Since formally launching the CRA process a year ago, the county conducted at least three public hearings in Silver Springs, each attended by about 100 people, to ascertain what the community wanted for the area.

In response to critics' assertions that the plan was drawn up with little or no public input, Commissioner Carl Zalak said Tuesday "the people that are in that community shaped this entire process."

Commissioner Earl Arnett observed that the provisions of the plan reflect "the citizens' choice."

Going forward, the board will work to prioritize the projects within the CRA, which runs eastward from the Ocala city limit to State Road 326, and is sandwiched between Northeast 49th Street and County Road 314.

Overall, the district encompasses 1,223 parcels spanning 4,123 acres.

According to the plan adopted Tuesday, the CRA is expected to generate on average about $97,400 a year for future projects.

Yet consultants have told commissioners that revenues could be higher, and that establishing the CRA could open the door to grant funding for projects.

While 78 percent of the parcels within the CRA are devoted to single- or multi-family housing and mobile homes, the state of Florida owns lion's share of the land, holding 1,522 acres — or 37 percent of the total acreage — within the special district.

That primarily includes the Silver Springs attraction, part of Silver River State Park and a 330-acre parcel south of the attraction known as the Silver Springs Conservation Area, a state-owned site maintained by Marion County.

One issue that didn't emerge as fully on Tuesday as it had at an advisory committee meeting last month was the inclusion of those state lands within the CRA.

Critics believed incorporating those would crack the door for the county to implement commercial ventures on public recreational lands — especially after Silver Springs is incorporated into the adjacent state park.

County officials have countered that their inclusion was necessary in order to help fund infrastructure projects — such as wastewater treatment or even the addition of interconnected hiking trails — on those properties.

Officials at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said they are willing to hear what the county might have in mind.

"Certainly if state lands are part of a proposed plan, the county will work with our Division of State Lands as the development of that plan continues," DEP spokesman Patrick Gillespie said in an email.

"DEP is always looking forward to communication with Marion County about Silver Springs, given its importance to the area and the state."

In other action on Tuesday, the County Commission:

• Approved a $112,310 worker's compensation settlement with Patricia Jones, a former highway maintenance worker who was hurt in August 2007.

Jones injured her back while pulling on a root, according to court records. She had not worked for the county since January 2008.

• Backed a deal that allows the Cornerstone School on Southeast Lake Weir Avenue to purchase about a half-acre of neighboring Brick City Adventure Park.

The school, which needed room for an expansion, will pay $77,600 for the property. The county will retain an easement for emergency access to the park and for drainage.

<p>County commissioners on Tuesday created a special tax district intended to bolster the appearance and economic appeal of Silver Springs.</p><p>The board voted unanimously to establish a Community Redevelopment Area, or CRA, a roughly 4,100-acre zone around Silver Springs wherein new tax revenues will be banked to build or fix nearby infrastructure.</p><p>Commissioners did so over the objections of a small minority who argued the plan could be used to benefit developers at the expense of existing residents and the famous Silver Springs attraction.</p><p>In four separate votes, commissioners agreed to establish the CRA, make themselves its governing board, set up the financing mechanism and adopt the plan to spruce up the area.</p><p>Under the plan, property values within the new district will be frozen at the level established as of Jan. 1, 2013. Beginning next year, and over the next 30 years, any subsequent increase in tax revenues from rising land values within the CRA will be funneled to a trust fund to pay for improvements within the district.</p><p>"It's going to be a great asset to the people in that community," Chairwoman Kathy Bryant said after the final vote.</p><p>Some residents agreed.</p><p>Dick Donaldson, who lives within the CRA, called it a "win-win for us."</p><p>Joy Steen, another resident, welcomed the plan as a way to revitalize a deteriorating community.</p><p>"We see our people leaving the area. We're beginning to see businesses boarded up, and other areas not thriving. I'm hopeful if the community redevelopment is approved we will see a change in this," Steen said.</p><p>David Tillman, an Ocala engineer, noted that the county has spent considerable sums to improve the stormwater drainage and wastewater disposal to preserve Silver Springs — something he still awaited from state environmental regulators.</p><p>Others, however, were unconvinced.</p><p>Critics focused on the wording of the plan, saying the terms were elastic enough to permit the county to introduce development that would have undesirable consequences for the famous springs, whose health is already in decline.</p><p>Guy Marwick, former director of the Silver River Museum at Silver River State Park, questioned provisions in the plan that call on the county to review growth management policies in the area.</p><p>For example, Marwick noted language that would facilitate consolidating parcels through voluntary sales or eminent domain, the government's ability to take private land for a public purpose, while compensating the landowner.</p><p>Marwick also pointed to terms recommending revision of policies that limit how much commercial space per acre developers are allowed to construct, and that suggest the county should negotiate "from the state," which owns the Silver Springs attraction, to "maximize development potential" at the park.</p><p>Marwick noted that the springs' flow is at a historic low, and that county, state and private groups collectively over the years have spent $150 million to buy Silver Springs and thousands of surrounding acres to spare it from intense development, which could only exacerbate its troubles.</p><p>"The wording in this leaves me, and many of us, unsure," Marwick said.</p><p>County Attorney Guy Minter explained that the county was prohibited under state law from exercising its eminent domain power to secure land from owners to provide to developers for economic development initiatives.</p><p>Minter, however, conceded that it "would be OK" for the county to assemble lots for a project if the land sales were voluntary.</p><p>Commissioners also worked to point out that it was the community that drafted the plan.</p><p>Since formally launching the CRA process a year ago, the county conducted at least three public hearings in Silver Springs, each attended by about 100 people, to ascertain what the community wanted for the area.</p><p>In response to critics' assertions that the plan was drawn up with little or no public input, Commissioner Carl Zalak said Tuesday "the people that are in that community shaped this entire process."</p><p>Commissioner Earl Arnett observed that the provisions of the plan reflect "the citizens' choice."</p><p>Going forward, the board will work to prioritize the projects within the CRA, which runs eastward from the Ocala city limit to State Road 326, and is sandwiched between Northeast 49th Street and County Road 314.</p><p>Overall, the district encompasses 1,223 parcels spanning 4,123 acres.</p><p>According to the plan adopted Tuesday, the CRA is expected to generate on average about $97,400 a year for future projects.</p><p>Yet consultants have told commissioners that revenues could be higher, and that establishing the CRA could open the door to grant funding for projects.</p><p>While 78 percent of the parcels within the CRA are devoted to single- or multi-family housing and mobile homes, the state of Florida owns lion's share of the land, holding 1,522 acres — or 37 percent of the total acreage — within the special district.</p><p>That primarily includes the Silver Springs attraction, part of Silver River State Park and a 330-acre parcel south of the attraction known as the Silver Springs Conservation Area, a state-owned site maintained by Marion County.</p><p>One issue that didn't emerge as fully on Tuesday as it had at an advisory committee meeting last month was the inclusion of those state lands within the CRA.</p><p>Critics believed incorporating those would crack the door for the county to implement commercial ventures on public recreational lands — especially after Silver Springs is incorporated into the adjacent state park.</p><p>County officials have countered that their inclusion was necessary in order to help fund infrastructure projects — such as wastewater treatment or even the addition of interconnected hiking trails — on those properties.</p><p>Officials at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said they are willing to hear what the county might have in mind.</p><p>"Certainly if state lands are part of a proposed plan, the county will work with our Division of State Lands as the development of that plan continues," DEP spokesman Patrick Gillespie said in an email.</p><p>"DEP is always looking forward to communication with Marion County about Silver Springs, given its importance to the area and the state."</p><p>In other action on Tuesday, the County Commission:</p><p>• Approved a $112,310 worker's compensation settlement with Patricia Jones, a former highway maintenance worker who was hurt in August 2007.</p><p>Jones injured her back while pulling on a root, according to court records. She had not worked for the county since January 2008.</p><p>• Backed a deal that allows the Cornerstone School on Southeast Lake Weir Avenue to purchase about a half-acre of neighboring Brick City Adventure Park.</p><p>The school, which needed room for an expansion, will pay $77,600 for the property. The county will retain an easement for emergency access to the park and for drainage.</p><p><i>Contact Bill Thompson at 867-4117 or bill.thompson@starbanner.com.</i></p>